Why the Elderly Need Virtual Doctor Visits

What one new technology product do you think would be the biggest help to older people?

MARC AGRONIN: I see the age wave in my office every day since more and more patients are in their late 80s and 90s. They are typically sociable individuals with many enduring interests who are wholly reliant upon children or aides to coordinate their schedules and provide transportation for appointments and activities. Without adequate resources, many of these elders are homebound and socially isolated. Easily accessible and user-friendly telepresence is one technology that could make an enormous difference in their lives and provide critical cost-savings.

Consider the many potential services that could be provided by the telepresence of one or more individuals on a large screen set up in the home of an elderly person: interactive social groups, adult education, cognitive stimulation, medical and mental health assessments, psychological counseling, reminders to take medications, visits with clergy, and shopping. The key elements that telepresence provides are social interactions and observation of the individual. Certain medical and mental health assessments could prevent unnecessary visits to the hospital or alert caregivers to evolving issues that warrant prompt intervention. Greater access to mental health counselors, dietitians and other specialists could be provided. Much of what I do in our memory center to evaluate individuals for cognitive impairment could be done via telepresence. Telepresence could provide interactive socialization and education in a greater variety of languages, cultures and religious approaches than available at the local senior center. An entire industry of telepresence volunteers and services could be created to serve the exploding population of aging individuals.

Although the technology of telepresence already exists, it would need to be adapted for individuals who are not computer savvy (and may even be technophobic) and who often have sensory deficits. Such adaptations should include voice activation, easily navigated menus, interactive operators, remote troubleshooting, simple keyboards, sophisticated volume controls and projection, and extra large high definition screens.

Telepresence is clearly not a substitute for physical interactions. Realistically, however, the needs of the growing elderly population are outpacing current resources. For some aging individuals, telepresence would be merely a bridge to more services; for others, it could become a lifestyle in itself in the same way younger people are using texts, tweets and Facebook posts to interact with the world.

Marc Agronin (@MarcAgronin), is a geriatric psychiatrist and the author of “How We Age: A Doctor’s Journey into the Heart of Growing Old.” He is the medical director for mental health and clinical research at Miami Jewish Health Systems and an affiliate associate professor of psychiatry and neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.